Abstract [en]

Introduction: Recurring vulvovaginal pain is common, affecting between 8-30 % of women in reproductive age. In addition to evident negative effects regarding sexual function and -satisfaction, vulvovaginal pain also has an impact on sufferers overall quality of life. Despite these extensive consequences little is known about how women with vulvovaginal pain actually cope with pain-triggering sexual activities. Knowledge about coping strategies in this area would give important clinical implications in both creating and targeting effective treatment interventions.

Aims: The study aims to explore if the use of coping strategies in relation to pain-triggering sexual activities are stable over time, or if different strategies are used dependent of pain level or situation. A further aim is to explore the relationship between coping and a spectrum of psychosexual aspects over time.

Method. The study consists of a student sample of women between 18-35 years old with recurring vulvovaginal pain who responded to a questionnaire at three separate time points (Base line: N=289; 6 months: N=153; 12 months: N= 126). Based on the CHAMP Sexual Pain Coping Scale (CSPCS), which measures avoidance- and endurance coping, cluster analysis was performed to group participants into distinct subgroups of individuals who reported similar coping strategies. The same procedure was performed at each assessment point to explore whether the individuals moved between the subgroups. Lastly the subgroups were compared in regards to several psychosexual factors.

Discussion. The results will be discussed at the presentation when analyses are completed.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages

The European Association for Behaviour and Cognitive Therapies , 2016.